Chris Fearne has rejected Prime Minister Robert Abela's request for him to reconsider his decision to resign.

Fearne submitted his resignation earlier on Friday, in the midst of charges being filed against him tied to the Vitals inquiry. But Abela had asked Fearne to reconsider his decision.

In a second letter later in the afternoon, Fearne has stuck to his original decision. "I thank you for again showing your complete trust in my integrity. It was the biggest privilege of my life to serve our country as a minister and Deputy Prime Minister. But I am going to stand by the decision I took."

Fearne has been accused of fraud and misappropriation after the conclusion of the magisterial inquiry into the Vitals deal, which saw the government transfer three hospitals to the private sector. The deal has since been rescinded after a court ruled it as having been "fraudulent".